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2004 Chevrolet Impala lights complaints

Page 4 of 5: complaints 71 to 100 of 108, newest first, as owners wrote them.

See the summary of 2004 Chevrolet Impala lights problems: which part fails, at what mileage and related recalls.

Filed May 11, 2009 · Lights · 60,000 miles · MO

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet impala. While driving approximately 55 MPH at night, the high beam headlights failed to operate when activated. The contact's visibility was extremely poor and she pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road. She had to manually hold the dimmer switch while driving to ensure the activation of the headlights. The vehicle was able to be driven normally, but has not been repaired. The VIN was not accepted by the system. The failure mileage was 60,000 and current mileage was 70,000. Updated 5/26/09 *cn updated 05/28/09.

Filed Feb 23, 2009 · Lights · 58,000 miles · SD

The headlights go completely out occasionally when switching on the high beams. It has done this intermittently for some time. They will come on when you switch them again. The car is a 2004 chevrolet impala ss. It first started it about 2 yrs ago.

Filed Feb 15, 2009 · Lights · 45,000 miles · TX

I have read several complaints on forums, such as the ones on carcomplaints.com, about this issue. 2004 chevy impala... Using the high beams, and suddenly its dark out side... The lights just turn off! You have to flicker the high beams a few times, and the normal lights will come back on. My lights have turned off while driving in the dark at least 400 times so far! This is going to get someone killed! Everyone wants around $700 to fix the issue, I think chevy should step up and pay this!

Filed Feb 12, 2009 · Acceleration, Lights · 72,000 miles · MI

The headlights keep cutting out with increased frequency with all exterior lights including the dash lights. Also, the speedometer will stop working and just keep increasing until it points straight down. Both have happened several times.

Filed Feb 12, 2009 · Lights · ME

My 2004 impala has problems with it's light/dimmer switch. One has to click the handle twice in order to dim/brighten the lights. A couple of time the dash lights and headlights all went completely out when I tried to dim/brighten the lights. This is a hazard. There should be a recall!!!!!

Filed Feb 11, 2009 · Lights, Visibility · 27,200 miles · ME

Driving on a dark rural road at night and tried to put my lights on high beam. The lights went totally out when I tried to put them on high beam. Previously during the past 3 months they have flickered when I went to put them on high beam but did not go totally out. I have tried several more times to put them on high beam and the lights go out totally each time so I do not dare to try to put them on high beam now at all. I have called a dealership to have this looked into. They say they will have to test the car first then take the steering column apart and probably replace the switch. Estimated cost up to $1000.00 my car has only 27,499 miles on it and I bought it brand new in 2004.

Filed Jan 21, 2009 · Lights · 63,000 miles · WI

While driving at night my high beams will suddenly shut off. If I hit the dim/bright switch, the low beams will come back on. I have tried taking the lights off of the automatic setting but it makes no difference. It is very dangerous to be driving at night and the lights all of a sudden shut off.

Filed Dec 9, 2008 · Lights · 67,919 miles · IN

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet impala. While driving approximately 45 MPH in the evening, the exterior headlights on both the driver and passenger sides failed. The contact stopped the vehicle and turned the dimmer switch on and off, which allowed the exterior lights to regain power. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The following day, the vehicle was driven to the dealer and they stated that the dimmer switch needed to be replaced. The dimmer switch was replaced that same day. The manufacturer stated that there was no recall; therefore, they were not liable for the repairs. The current mileage was 67,924 and failure mileage was 67,919. Updated 12/30/08 *cn updated 12/30/08.

Filed Oct 31, 2008 · Electrical, Lights · 116,900 miles · CA

I bought a used 2004 impala in aug. 2008 and basically since the first day I got it I have had problems with the speedometer. The dealer promised to have it repaired, but has yet to do so. They keep giving me the run around, and now for the past month my stereo has stopped working. Yesterday my fuel gauge started going haywire. The interior lights only work sometimes. The low tire pressure warning light wont reset. This is a safety problem that needs to be recalled. Because of my speedometer not working I almost went off the side of a freeway on ramp from not being able to tell how fast I was going. I just had to pray that I had slowed down enough to make the curve. Is someone going to have to be seriously injured or die before there is a recall on this. I have been to several websites researching the 2004 impala and there are hundreds of complaints all saying the same thing. Its time that gm takes responsibility and does something about it. I am not able to have my car repaired because of the cost. It's way to expensive. I will never buy another gm vehicle.

Filed Jul 25, 2008 · Lights · 85,000 miles · TX

Headlights went off during driving at night. This happened eight to ten times over a period of three to four months, with lights on high beam. Lights came back on when dimmer lever was activated. Instrument panel remained illuminated when headlights went off.

Filed Jun 20, 2008 · Lights · MI

High beam lights are disabled after about 10 minutes of use.

Filed Apr 20, 2008 · Lights · 5,100 miles · FL

No prior event. Turn signal flasher ceased to function full time. It has been intermittent for several days. Hazard lights nor turn signals blink. Bulbs come on and stay on. No flasher.

Filed Apr 7, 2008 · Lights · 42,000 miles · MA

The turn signals and hazard lights no longer blink when turned on. The bulbs light up but do not blink on and off.

Filed Apr 7, 2008 · Brakes, Lights · 50,000 miles · OR

I have a 2004 chevy impala that has had problems with warped rotors, which I had replaced. Then a wheel bearing went bad. Took vehicle to chevy dealer. They diagnosed it as left front hub bearing being bad. I had left front hub bearing replaced and problem wasn't fixed. Turned out it was right front hub bearing that was bad, so both ended up replaced. A few weeks later "service traction system" light started coming on every day and shuts off the ABS and traction control systems. Outside temperature and weather conditions don't make any difference. Also having problems with headlights going from high beams to dim. Sometimes it takes two or three attempts before it will go from high beams to dim. I've never had these kinds of problems with chevrolet's before. I've had chevrolet's with 150,000 miles on them and have never had to replace rotors, wheel bearings, or had ABS problems before, just normal maintenance.

Filed Apr 2, 2008 · Lights · 81,000 miles · NY

Problem switching from high beam to low beam etc and sudden headlight failure at night while driving down road. Believe problem is multi function switch which has been reported by numerous people for this vehicle type. Started out as infrequent but getting progressively worse.

Filed Feb 13, 2008 · Lights · 111,721 miles · GA

Last year around this same time I was driving to work around 4:30 am on I 85 nb in atlanta, ga. Going to work when my car suddenly went totally dark. I didn't realize it until I got to a stretch of highway that had no lights. It was very scary cause I didn't know if any of the other cars could see me. I got off the hwy at the 1st exit and waited until daylight to go continue to work. I went to the 1st mechanic that opened and the lights were working again so the mechanic couldn't find anything wrong. 1 year later on 2/12/08, my 7year old son and I went to the drug store to get his medication and as we were driving up sr 139, I noticed that I couldn't see the road!!! Again, I'm on a stretch of road with no street lights and this time I have interior lights, blinkers and parkers, but I have no headlights. I immediately pulled over and cut the car off hoping to reset the computer or whatever was causing the problem and when I restarted the car the headlights still didn't come on. I waited approx 45 minutes and still in the dark. I was sooo afraid because I had my son with me and I had about 2.5 miles to go before getting home. I took my chances and drove home trying to be as careful as possible as oncoming cars flashed their lights at me and honked. My son was scared and kept asking if other cars were going to hit us or if they could see us. I tried to stay calm for him, but truthfully, I was scared stupid. I've been reading up on similar situations like this and gm has got to step up and fix this problem. Why should it take for someone to loose their life for gm to take notice??? I've owned a 99 grand am, 00 oldsmobile alero & now the the 04 impala. I thought that I had moved up and bought a really good car that I loved not a death machine. My next car might have to be a nissan or a toyota. My grandma & mom only buy toyotas and have never had these types of problems. But I'm trying to keep my fellow americans employed even though I've lost my job.

Filed Jan 29, 2008 · Lights · 55,000 miles · GA

2004 chevrolet impala - the headlights will go out without any warning while you are driving down the road. This is extremely dangerous! I am still in the process of trying to figure out how to get this problem corrected. I have already had the light sensor replaced and the bcm replaced. Neither of these corrected the problem. After many days and hours of research, I think it may be related to the multi-function switch on the steering column. This must become a recall as this endangers many lives!

Filed Jan 26, 2008 · Lights · CA

Turn signals operate intermittently with switch in either position. Hazards work fine. You have to operate hazards to get turn signals to work. When turn signals are inoperative, the driver cannot use them to signal intent to turn that could result in a crash.

Filed Jan 13, 2008 · Lights · 185,263 miles · 00

Multifunction switch on steering colum failed , as a result I have no highbeams , if I attempt to put them on all lights go out , this is a very expensive problem that I think general motors should come good for.

Filed Jan 3, 2008 · Lights · 93,000 miles · 00

2004 chevrolet impala. Headlights suddenly stopped working completely while backing out of my driveway onto my road. While I was able to pull back into my driveway quickly, it would have been another story a minute later when I would have been at a busy intersection. Because there was no accident or injuries, does not make this any less of a serious safety related failure of this vehicle. If the police can ticket you for not fixing one headlight when it fails, why would this not be a more serious safety problem? I had the vehicle in to the gm dealership where they determined that the multifunction switch (on the steering column) had failed. It was replaced and it cost me $786.00 canadian. My wife told me that the lights had gone out a few weeks prior to this while driving home one night. They suddenly went out for a few seconds and then came back on by themselves. I am assuming this was caused by the same malfunction.

Filed Dec 10, 2007 · Lights · TX

2004 chevy impala--both turn signals and hazard lights stop flashing. Tried to replace fuses, but all still good. Could not locate a turn signal relay in the fuse box. Spoke to a mechanic who said it didn't make since that there was no relay in the fuse panel. Looked up the turn signal switch part and it was on back order. The part alone was over $300.00. Mechanic also stated it did not make since that it would be the turn signal switch when all other components on the turn signal arm (windshield wipers, cruise control, etc.) still worked. Unable to go to the dealership since it was a sunday. Looked up other similar complaints on topix.com and found several people having the same problem. Was advised to turn on and off the hazard several times. In doing so (about 100 times) the signals started working. Therefore, it doesn't seem as if this is a turn signal switch issue, but a hazard switch issue. This is a very dangerous situation if driving and your turn signals stop working which could cause a serious accident.

Filed Dec 5, 2007 · Brakes, Electrical · 48,000 miles · NY

While applying the brakes for the first time after start up at low speeds (less than 20mph) the antilock brakes kick in when not needed. For about 2-3 seconds, there is extremely reduced braking ability. After this initial time period, the whole antilock braking system shuts down and also turns off the traction control system. Once the shutdown has taken place, the car's braking system functions as if there was no antilock brakes on the vehicle. Took car to dealership which indicated that the wheel sensor was bad and could be replaced for $600.00. Also while driving on the interstate, noticed that the speedometer was stuck at 65mph, regardless of speed. When turned off, the vehicle still read 65mph. Was unable to determine proper speed. Noticed that the vehicle reset the speed 5mph lower each time the ignition switch was moved from off to on. Multiple cycles of turning the ignition switch on and off finally reset the speedometer to 0mph. Don't know if this is only a temporary fix for a problem that will probably get worse. Although not a serious issue, the tachometer does the same thing.

Filed Nov 29, 2007 · Lights · 66,000 miles · CO

While driving with hi beams on the headlights will repeatedly shut completely off. I have to move the hi/low beam lever and the low beams will come on. This can be very dangerous since I live on un-lit country roads. This in not an occasional problem, it happens every time the lights are on.

Filed Nov 8, 2007 · Fuel system, Lights · 50,000 miles · LA

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 chevrolet impala. The contact smelled gasoline in the vehicle. The dealer stated that the fuel system regulator was leaking. She smelled gasoline for over a month and took the vehicle to a mechanic. She thought the failure had been repaired; however, the odor remained. The contact then took the vehicle to a general motors dealer and they made the repair. There is a safety recall on the vehicle, but the recall number was unknown. The powertrain was unknown as well. The current mileage was 60,899 and failure mileage was 50,000. *updated 12/12/07 *bf the dealer stated repaired trunk light. Updated 12/12/07

Filed Oct 26, 2007 · Lights · 26,980 miles · OH

Last winter I was driving to work on a dark morning and without warning my headlights went totally out. I kept flipping my headlight switch off and on and my dimmer switch until they came back on. I continued down the road and it happened repeatedly until I got to work. Took it to the dealer, they replaced a computer module. I didn't think to much about it until this morning when it happened again. It has been cool or cold out both times it has happened so I don't know if it has anything to do with temperature or not. I have lost time from work because our area auto dealers service depts. Are not open on saturdays, not to mention the danger of driving a black car in the dark with no headlights!

Filed Sep 24, 2007 · Lights · 61,000 miles · OR

Suddenly the directional signals failed to work. The light would go on and then stay on. When I turn off the engine and restart many times they will again work for awhile and then suddenly stopped again. I've checked the fuzes, etc. But nothing helps. This could present safety issues. Checking on the internet I find many have had this same problems.

Filed Sep 13, 2007 · Electrical, Lights · 30,000 miles · MT

Wow same problem as everyone else. Speed does not register properly seems to be whenever it wants it will show speeds higher then what they are. This is a danger because speeds are guessed in school zones and highways. After a couple days speed will begin to work ok. Now the blower motor and heater do not work unless you pound by the ashtray area and hopefully the air conditioning will start blowing but the heat will not come on when switched to heat. This is a safety issue living in montana when it gets below 32 and colder it would be nice this winter to thaw out the windows so I can see when driving at unknown speeds. Sometimes when the air is blowing you can smell something burning. We are in drought conditions in montana and if my car were to catch on fire on side of road and continue up the mountains this could be a disaster be creating a wildfire. I am unhappy with my car which has started problems around the 30,000 mile mark. Another problem is the high beam switch is needing to be clicked twice before dimming down from high beam. This is a safety issue due to blinding oncoming traffic. Transmission has been like slipping into gear as well.

Filed Mar 21, 2007 · Lights · 41,000 miles · FL

The blinker switch malfunctions from bright to dim, sometimes goes black *ak.

Filed Mar 8, 2007 · Lights · 47,700 miles · OR

Driving along at night with headlights on and they just went out, luckily, there was a bright moon and straight highway, happened 3 more times on way home, approximately 10 miles. After turning car off and on, lights off and on, they would come back on. Have not driven it after dark since then. Experienced more problems.

Filed Feb 16, 2007 · Lights · 75,000 miles · IL

Driving at night, headlights turned off on their own. Pulled forward several times on the dimmer switch and they came back on. If the dimmer switch is on lo-beam & switched to hi-beam, occasionally there is no "click". This is when the lights go off. If I hear the "click" the lights have not failed. Will schedule appointment with dealer to correct the problem.

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